Nigeria, Greece tied 1-1 at halftime of their Group B World Cup match

Greece, Nigeria at 1-1 at halftime

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa — Striker Dimitris Salpingidis scored just before halftime to lift Greece into a 1-1 score against 10-man Nigeria in their Group B match at the World Cup.

Kalu Uche put Nigeria ahead in the 16th minute, curling in a free kick from 35 yards after Sokratis Papastathopoulos took down Nigeria’s Peter Odemwingie to give the Super Eagles the free kick.

Nigeria was reduced to 10 men when midfielder Sani Kaita received a red card in the 33rd for pushing and kicking Greece’s Vassilis Torosidis after the ball was out of play.

Greece took the initiative after Kaita was sent off, and Salpingidis’ right-footed drive bounced off Nigeria midfielder Lukman Haruna and into the net in the 44th minute.